400,000 year old dental tartar found

Interesting dental news has developed this week that brought to light some essential facts about the diet, environment, and pollutants of the people living 400,000 years ago just a little outside of Tel Aviv. The teeth were found in Qesem Cave, and the calculus is the oldest discovered that actually revealed vital information about a culture.

Dental calculus can reveal diet, as well as environmental pollutants. In this case, the calculus showed respiratory irritants such as charcoal, perhaps from cooking fires. The findings also revealed that the cave dwellers had a diet that was not entirely meat based. They did ingest seeds, nuts, and plants as well–and even used fibers from a plant as a toothpick or floss to clean their teeth!

A practicing dentist since 1982, Dr. Gary Imm, provides advanced cosmetic dentistry, including smile makeovers, sedation, implant and TMJ services. He is committed to progressive, extraordinary care for his guests. All Smiles Dental Care trains at least 300 hours each year at such prestigious centers as the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dentistry. (LVI)